Colorado Cottage Food Laws (2026)
✓ Verified against official sources · Aug 20, 2026Colorado Cottage Foods Act, C.R.S. § 25-4-1614 (originally SB 12-048, 2012); amended by HB26-1033 "Tamale Act" (signed 2026-06-04, CCFA changes effective 2027-01-01)
- License
- No license required
- Annual sales cap
- $10,000/yrAs of 2026-08-20, the $10,000/year cap applies per product/category, not as a total sales ceiling — CDPHE's FAQ gives the example that blueberry, banana, and chocolate-chip muffins can each count as a separate $10,000 category (C.R.S. § 25-4-1614(3)(e)). Starting 2027-01-01, HB26-1033 changes this to a single producer-wide annual cap of $150,000 (inflation-adjusted) and adds mandatory registration — see changelog.
- Government fees
- No fee
- Training
- RequiredFood safety training (choose one of three options; must stay current per each option's renewal requirement)
- Regulator
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) — Manufactured Foods / Cottage Foods ProgramHandled at state level
What you can and can’t make
Allowed
- Baked goods (no cream/custard fillings)
- Candy & chocolate
- Cotton candy
- Dehydrated produce
- Dry baking/soup mixes
- Fruit butter
- Granola & cereal
- Jams, jellies & preserves
- Honey
- Roasted nuts & nut butters
- Seeds
- Dry tea & roasted coffee
- Spices & seasoning blends
- Whole eggs (limited quantity)
- Fruit empanadas & hand pies
- Tortillas
- Pickled fruits & vegetables
- Milled flour
- Confections containing alcohol
Not allowed
- Any food requiring refrigeration (TCS)
- Meat & jerky
- Fresh dairy products
- Fish & seafood
- Raw milk products
- Cream, custard & meringue fillings
- Low-acid canned foods
- Kombucha & fermented drinks
Label requirements
Every product label must include:
- Product name
- Business / operation name
- Operation address
- Phone number
- Date produced
- Ingredients, in descending order by weight
- Home kitchen statement (exact wording below)
Required statement, word for word:
“This product was produced in a home kitchen that is not subject to state licensure or inspection and that may also process common food allergens such as tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, soy, wheat, milk, fish, and crustacean shellfish. This product is not intended for resale.”
Where you can sell
| Online orders | Yes |
|---|---|
| Shipping within the state | Yes |
| Across state lines | No |
| Stores, cafés & other resellers | No |
| Third-party delivery apps | No |
What it costs to start
- Permit / registration feeNo license required in this state$0
- Food safety course (required)Food safety training (choose one of three options; must stay current per each option's renewal requirement)$10–$30
- Labels, bags & packaging (first batch)$30–$60
- LLC formation (optional)Plus your state's filing fee$39
- Liability insurance (optional)Per month, from FLIP$26
- Likely minimum to start (required items)from $40
Common questions
Do I need a license to sell food from home in Colorado?
No. Colorado does not require a state license or permit for qualifying cottage foods, though other rules (labeling, allowed foods) still apply.
How much can a cottage food business sell per year in Colorado?
$10,000/yr. As of 2026-08-20, the $10,000/year cap applies per product/category, not as a total sales ceiling — CDPHE's FAQ gives the example that blueberry, banana, and chocolate-chip muffins can each count as a separate $10,000 category (C.R.S. § 25-4-1614(3)(e)). Starting 2027-01-01, HB26-1033 changes this to a single producer-wide annual cap of $150,000 (inflation-adjusted) and adds mandatory registration — see changelog.
Can I sell my homemade food online in Colorado?
Yes, online orders are allowed, and you can ship within the state. Sales across state lines are not allowed.
What has to be on a cottage food label in Colorado?
7 required elements, including the exact statement: “This product was produced in a home kitchen that is not subject to state licensure or inspection and that may also process common food allergens such as tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, soy, wheat, milk, fish, and crustacean shellfish. This product is not intended for resale.”. See the labeling section for the full list (C.R.S. § 25-4-1614(3)).
Who regulates cottage food in Colorado?
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) — Manufactured Foods / Cottage Foods Program.
Recent law changes
- 2026-06-04 (CO HB26-1033) — HB26-1033 (the 'Tamale Act') was signed into law, but its changes to C.R.S. § 25-4-1614 do not take effect until 2027-01-01, so the rules above remain current as of today (2026-08-20); once effective it will allow TCS/refrigerated meat foods in one category with up to 5 variations (e.g., tamales, burritos, tortas — meat from an inspected facility), replace the $10,000-per-product cap with a $150,000 total annual cap per producer (inflation-adjusted), require mandatory annual CDPHE registration with a public registry, add extra training for TCS producers, and expand label requirements to include a registration number, county of production, and a complaint/verification URL.
Official sources
This guide was compiled from the following primary sources, last reviewed on Aug 20, 2026:
- agencyCDPHE — Cottage Foods Act (official program page: eligible/ineligible foods, training options, labeling FAQ, HB26-1033 notice)
- statuteC.R.S. § 25-4-1614 — Home kitchens (Colorado Cottage Foods Act), full current text
- statuteC.R.S. § 25-4-1614 — cross-check copy
- agencyCSU Extension — Cottage Food Safety Training (recognized training program named by CDPHE)
- statuteColorado General Assembly — HB26-1033 "Expanding the Colorado Cottage Foods Act" (Tamale Act) bill status/summary
- approved food listCDPHE — Cottage Foods Act Eligibility Checklist / allowed foods sample list